An investment in your future career

Will graduate school pay off for you in the long run? Well, it certainly depends on your area of study, and you could check with your academic advisor for advice on your particular field of interest. The numbers prove, however, that further education does pay off over the life of your career. Consider the following numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

These figures are median weekly earnings for all employees, not specifically employees in the fields Rose-Hulman graduates typically make their careers. Still, you can see a big jump in annual income form $53,300 for a person with a bachelor's degree to $65,364 for master's, and well above $79,000 for both professional and doctoral degrees.

The main thing to consider beyond future earnings is the type of job you wish to pursue. Obviously if you want to be a doctor, dentist or lawyer, further education is a must. If you want to teach at the college level, you will also need to have an advanced degree. Many research and management positions also require a graduate degree. Depending on your area of study, your graduate studies will be heavily weighted in research, making you even more qualified for employment.